(1)The Education Act 1996 (c. 56) is amended in accordance with this section.
(2)After section 332ZB insert—
(1)The Welsh Ministers may provide by regulations for a child to have a person (referred to in this Part as a “case friend”)—
(a)to make representations on behalf of a child with a view to avoiding or resolving disagreements about the exercise by local education authorities in Wales of functions under this Part, and
(b)to exercise the rights of a child under section 332ZA on the child’s behalf.
(2)A child’s case friend must—
(a)make representations and exercise rights fairly and competently,
(b)have no interest adverse to that of the child;
(c)ensure that all steps and decisions taken by the case friend are for the benefit of the child and take account of the child’s views.
(3)Regulations made under this section may (among other things)—
(a)confer functions on the Welsh Tribunal;
(b)make provision about procedures in relation to case friends;
(c)make provision about the appointment and removal of case friends;
(d)specify the circumstances in which a person may or may not act as a case friend;
(e)specify the circumstances in which a child must have a case friend;
(f)specify further requirements in respect of the conduct of case friends.”.